The Escorts (American R&B group)

The Escorts, also known as the Legendary Escorts, are an R&B group formed in Rahway State Prison in 1970.[1]

The Escorts
OriginRahway, New Jersey, United States
GenresR&B, soul, doo-wop
Years active1970–present
LabelsAlithia Records
MembersReginald Haynes, Billy Martin, La’Grant Harris[1]
Past membersLawrence Franklin, Robert Arrington, William Dugger, Stephen Carter, Frank Heard, Marion Murphy[2]

Background

While incarcerated at Trenton State Prison in 1968, founding member Reginald Prophet Haynes began practicing doo-wop singing with fellow prisoners. In 1970, after members of the group were transferred to Rahway State Prison, they first performed as the Escorts at a prison talent show, where they caught the attention of Motown producer George Kerr.[3][4]

In 1973, Kerr returned to Rahway with a mobile recording unit, resulting in the Escorts' debut album, All We Need is Another Chance,[5][6] followed by Three Down, Four to Go (1974).

Legacy

The Escorts have been sampled by hip hop artists including J Dilla and Public Enemy.[6] They are the subject of Corbett Jones' 2017 documentary film, All We Need Is Another Chance,[7] and a version of the group has continued to tour as the Legendary Escorts.[1] Jill Scott used the track from, "Look Over Your Shoulder", for her song, "Family Reunion" off of her 2004 album, "Beautifully Human".

Discography

Albums
  • 1973: All We Need Is Another Chance
  • 1974: Three Down, Four to Go

See also
  • Lifers Group – a hip hop group formed at Rahway State Prison (now East Jersey State Prison) in 1991

References
  1. Cardine, Sara (20 September 2012). "Redemption Song". Pasadena Weekly. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  2. Hamilton, Andrew. "The Escorts | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  3. "Theater of the Resist: The Escorts and Lifers Group". Metropolitan Museum of Art. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  4. "ALL WE NEED IS ANOTHER CHANCE | Documentary Feature". All We Need Is Another Chance. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  5. https://www.nytimes.com/1973/04/24/archives/prisoners-sing-sample-of-their-album-guard-sees-a-hit.html
  6. "'All We Need Is Another Chance' Doc Looks At The Power of Music Behind Bars". Mass Appeal. 26 April 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  7. "The Power of Music in ALL WE NEED IS ANOTHER CHANCE | Montclair Film". montclairfilm.org. Retrieved 5 June 2018.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuzU1_Rs2IY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOsO7p7OUuM



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